Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1108565 search inquires.

Selected title: First Strike
Explanation: An unofficial term referring to a coin struck shortly after a new die is put into use. Such coins often have prooffike surfaces and resemble proof, in certain (but not all) characteristics. Resurfaced previously-used dies sometimes also have these characteristics
Explanation: A grading service term used by PCGS, NGC, and other grading services. It indicates the coin was in one of the first groups of coins shipped by the US mint. PCGS and NGC will seal the coin in their "First Strike" plastic slab holder with the words " First Strike" inside the PCGS holder

Most popular coin titles

DefinitionSearchesPercentage
Specimen Proof (SP-70 or PF-70) 55943  13.28%
Silver Clad 32847  7.80%
Coin Silver 24903  5.91%
Slabbed Coins 23837  5.66%
BN 23408  5.56%
Encapsulated Coin 22345  5.30%
RB 21849  5.19%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18825  4.47%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18804  4.46%
Reeded Edge 17657  4.19%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17464  4.15%
Obverse or Face side 16917  4.02%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16785  3.98%
Rarity 16685  3.96%
PQ 16392  3.89%
MS (MS60-MS70) 16086  3.82%
Incuse 15414  3.66%
Coin drop 15244  3.62%
High Relief 15044  3.57%
Reverse Cameo 14785  3.51%